Spring-wheel for vehicles.



W. J. LUTTRELL.

SPRING WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.8,1913.

1,087,960, Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

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WILLIAM J. LUT'IRELL, OF HONEY GROVE, TEXAS.

SPBINGWVHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24:, 1914.

Application filed April 8, 1913. Serial No. 759,618.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. LUT'IRELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Honey Grove, in the county of Fannin and Stateof Texas, have invented a new and Improved Spring-Vheel for Vehicles, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to wheels of that type consisting of an inner andan outer section of annular form, with spring cushioning devices betweenthe sections for insuring. easy running of the vehicle by the springdevices absorbing shocks and vibrations.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify theconstruction and operation of wheels of this character, so as to bereliable and e'l'licient in use, comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture and so designed as to provide an effective cushioningaction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved connectingand cushioning means between the inner and outer sections of the wheel,whereby the two sections can shift with respect to their centers withoutundue strain or friction.

' An additional object is the employment of simple and effective meansfor excluding mud, dirt and water from the interior of the wheel.

With these objects in view, and others as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of constructionandarrangeinent of parts which will be more fully described hereinafterand set forth with particularity in the claim appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, and wherein similar reference characters are employed todesignate corresponding parts throughout both the views, Figure 1 is aside view of a wheel with portions broken away to show the details ofconstruction; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2 2of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the outer or tire section and Bthe inner or body section of the wheel. The tire section A comprises afelly or rim 1 of channel cross-section, and between the flanges 2thereof is set a rubber tread element or tire proper 3. The annularouter section is of somewhat larger internal diameter than the externaldiameter of the inner section and the gap between the two sections ofthe wheel is closed on both sides by rings 4 of leather or equivalentmaterial, to form mud guards whereby dirt is prevented from entering thewheel. The tworings of leather l are secured by fastenings 5 to thefelly 2 and by fastenings 6 to the inner section of the wheel, and theserings of leather will normally have suflicient slackness to permit thetwo sections of the wheel to freely move relatively to each other as thewheel passes over obstructions and the like in the road way, but insteadof leather, rubber or other elastic material may be employed.

The inner section B comprises a hub 7, spokes 8 and concentric rings 9and 10, the latter being connected with the ends of the spokes and theformer being disposed intermediate the hub and outer ring. The twosections of the wheel are operatively united by radial connectingelements 11 in the form of rods which have their outer ends 12 connectedwith the outer section A, and from which the elements extend inwardlythrough both rings 9 and 10. The rings are provided with slots 13 and 14which lie in the plane of the wheel so as to provide for lateralmovement of the connecting elements 11 with respect to the inner sectionof the wheel, and within each ring are springs 15 disposed at oppositesides of each element 11, to yieldingly oppose relative movement of theinner elements 11 and inner section B of the wheel. Interposed betweenthe outer section A and the ring 10 of the inner section are cushioningsprings 16 on each ele ment 11, and also on each element at the innerend thereof is a spring 17 interposed between the inner ring 9 and head18 on the element 11. These springs permit the two sections to shifteccentrically, one with respect to the other, and at the same time takeup shocks submitted to the wheel in traveling over rough surfaces. Thespace between the two rings 9 and 10 is inclosed by side plates 19 ofannular form, which overlie the mud guards 4. These plates are fastenedto the rings 9 and 10 by fastenings 6 and 20. The inner ends of theconnecting elements 11 are inclosed in housings or caps 21 disposedbetween the spokes 8 and fastened to the inner ring 9. By reason of themud guards 4, plates 19 and caps 21, it is practically impossible fordust and mud to work into the wheel.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the advantages of the method of opera tion and of the deviceshown Will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to whichthe-invention appertains, and while I have described the device which Inow consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that the de ice shown is merely illustrative, and that suchchanges may be made when desired as are within the scope of'the appendedclaim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

In a wheel, the combination of a hub, spokes thereon, concentric ringsfastened to the spokes and having alining radial slots and lateralopenings leading from the slots rods slidably mounted longitudinally andlaterally in each pair of alining slots, opposed springs in each slotfor resisting lateral movement of the said rods, heads on the inner endsof the rods, springs interposed heads for between the inner ring andsaid the rods,

opposing outward movement of an outer or tire ring secured to the outerendsor" the rods, springs on the said rods and interposed between thetire ring and the outer ring on the spokes, flexible mud guards fastenedto the tire ring and outer ring on the spokes and bridging the spacebetween said rings, and plates secured to the sides of the saidconcentric rings on the spokes and closing the said openings to eX-clude mud from the said springs, and caps secured to the inner ring forcovering the inner ends of the said rods and springs thereon.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM J. LUTTRELL.

Vitness es DELMER S. TAYLOR, R. M. MOCLEARY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patterns. Washington, D. C.

